Saturday, March 22, 2008

Backstage WestBrolin Film to Open HollyShorts FestivalBrolin_Getty.jpgMarch 21, 2008By Nicole KristalThe Josh Brolin-directed short film X will have its Hollywood premiere Aug. 7 as the opening film of the fourth annual HollyShorts Film Festival at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood. Festival co-organizers and directors Daniel Sol and Theo Dumont are thrilled to include the film. “We are delighted to kick off this year’s HollyShorts with the Hollywood premiere of Josh Brolin’s short film X, in conjunction with the American Cinematheque,” Sol said in a statement. Hollyshorts is scheduled to run Aug. 7-10.

X follows an inmate who escapes from prison to reunite with his daughter and search for her murdered mother’s body in order to give her a proper burial. The film stars Brolin’s two daughters — Eden Brolin and stepdaughter Eleanor Lambert — alongside Vincent Riverside as the inmate, Jack.

Brolin, who won a 2008 Screen Actors Guild Award as part of the No Country for Old Men ensemble and was nominated as part of the American Gangster ensemble, said in a statement, “I’m honored that HollyShorts has chosen my directorial debut film, X, to open their fourth annual festival. I’m proud of the stark nature of this film, how it explores the parent-child relationship, and appreciate the support of those willing to embrace my journey into filmmaking. We’re excited to show the film and be a part of this event.”

HollyShorts’ opening night will also feature other acclaimed short films from around the world, to be announced in late June. The complete festival lineup will be unveiled in the first week of July. The festival also features networking forums, receptions, and entertainment-industry panels.

Sol said the festival is designed to help filmmakers at all stages of their careers and he’s excited to expand the festival to four days: “We look forward to presenting a great slate of high-quality short-form content and continue creating platforms for filmmakers to advance their careers to the next level.”